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THE SECRETS 



OF THE 



MEDICINAL WATERS OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, 



THE TRUE THEORY OF THEIR ORIGIN 



AND 



SOURCE OF SUPPLY. 



"He opened the rock, and the water gushed out; They ran in the 
dry places like a river." — Psalms, 105, 41. 

by/ 

Capt. J. F\ BUTLER. 



A 



SARATOGA SPRINGS, N. Y. 
Jan. 1, 1888. 



THE SECRETS 



OF THE 



MEDICINAL WATERS OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, 



THE TRUE THEORY OF THEIR ORIGIN 



AND 



SOURCE OF SUPPLY, 



"He opened the rock, and the water gushed out; They van in the 
dry places like a river." — Psalms, 105,41. 



J. F\H3UT 



>Q Capt J. P.^UTLER, 

^°7 



SARATOGA SPRINGS. X. Y. 
Jan. 1, 1888 



6* 



Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1888 

By J. P. BUTLER, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



WEED, PARSONS & CO., 

ELECTROTYPERS AND PRINTS K S , 

ALBANY, X. Y. 



PREFACE. 



While I was a student at the Academy at Westport in Essex 
county, I had the pleasure of listening to a course of Geological 
lectures by Prof. Kellogg of that school, and living at Moriah, in 
that mineral district, and familiar with the iron ores of that region. 
I prepared a brief, on the mines of that district, for Winslow C. 
Watson for his History of Lake Champlain, and for the Rev. Joseph 
Cook, when he wrote his History of Ticonderoga. I thus acquired 
a great love for the study of Geology and kindred subjects. 

When I came to Saratoga to reside in 1857 I was greatly inter- 
ested in her Mineral and Geological history and developments, and 
lost no opportunity to familiarize myself with the strange rocks 
associated with her mineral springs, and soon became an intent 
observer of the process and mode of their devolopment. In 1857 no 
spring had been tubed on the rock. I have watched the process 
since, in every instance, in spite of the usual notice "no admit- 
tance." 

I have written these papers to place my views on record, and to 
present my own theory thus acquired, of the origin of the mineral 
waters, and their source of supply, and the proper means of preser- 
vation and security, from my standpoint of observation. They are 



Our Mineral Springs, 



CHAPTER I. 

THEIR FORMATION, LOCATION, SOURCE AND MAINTENANCE — 

THEORY WITH REFERENCE TO SARATOGA'S SYSTEM OF 

MINERAL WATERS. 

[An article to the Saratoga Union.] 

In an article in the Union of December 16, entitled " Interdepen- 
dence of Our Mineral Springs," the theory of Prof. T. G. Hunt is 
adopted, that a portion of the old ocean is "pent up in the rocks 
which underlie Saratoga ;" that " the sealing up of the waters over 
a large area gave rise, not only to the sea waters, but to their quali- 
ties ; " that is, a portion of the ocean has been cut off and held in 
submerged caverns, thousands of .feet beneath the village, and of 
unknown depth, "bottled up and sealed up and corked up," and in 
this divine laboratory is carried on the generating of the gases neces- 
sary to force the water to the surface through defects in the roof 
of the caverns , or sealing ; " and the author feared that by a too 
free use of the diamond drill, the sealing or cover will be so perfo- 
rated, and the vent so enlarged as to permit a general escape of gas 
through wastage, causing a subsidence of the water, like unto those 
foolish people " who hewed out to themselves cisterns, broken cis- 
terns, that would hold no water." 

The article, though characterized by ability and high authority, 
has in no way established the theory of the interdependency of the 
springs, nor am I alarmed by the danger of the diamond or other 



10 Our Mineral Springs. 

After centuries of rest and preparation, it gave us the springs by 
bringing tlie Green Mountain system in contact and harmony with 
the submerged calciferous sand rock. The diverse minerals held in 
the stony hand of each, by the solvent power of water, were brought 
in contact and commingled. The head waters of these interior rivers 
flowed fresh, clear and pure as the dew of Hermon or the nectar of 
the gods. They chisel their own tunnels, and cut their own way, 
and gather, over long reaches, their own distinctive mineral ingredi- 
ents, held in solution for analysis, as they wind and turn and leap in 
cascades from rock to lock and from strata to strata. As they thread 
their way onward and upward to the surface they unite and evolve 
carbonic acid gas, and that union and evolution forms and creates 
our unrivaled mineral springs. The mysterious laboratory of their 
formations are the profound chambers, unfathomable and unpolutable 
by man. They trace their course downward and upward throughout 
the several geological systems in ten thousand streamlets, like the 
veins, arteries and conduits of the human body. Turned back by 
the western wall of the fault, they seek their principal outlet and 
discharge along the deep excavation formed by the " Village Brook." 

This is my theory, and I present the facts on which it is based, as 
follows: 

First point. There is no mineral water west of the fault, unless 
ejected into shallow crevices. [Over sixty years ago a company was 
formed to find mineral water or salt west of and along the line of 
Broadway. Three wells were sunk, one near the Delaware and Hud- 
son depot, one near Church street, the other opposite the residence 
of Lieutenant-Commander McNair. Nothing but fresh water was 
reached. Within the last year Mr. Abel Putnam drilled one thou- 
sand feet deep, about half a mile west of Broadway, but no sign of 
mineral water was discovered. Several years ago Mr. Crook, of 
Quaker Springs, excavated at Rock City Falls, one thousand feet, 
but without result. Within the past few weeks Mr. Ains worth com- 
pleted his drilling near the west line of the fault. He first struck 
mineral water at a depth of two hundred and forty feet. His last 
attempt, was on a right angle of forty feet south by forty feet west 



ORIGINAL POSITION 




No. 1 — Sectional view of fault, with east and west rock in position. 



Our Mixekal Springs. 11 

from his first opening, and he stopped work at four hundred and 
fifteen feet, without any sign of mineral water. The first was east 
of the fault and the last west of that line, so I infer that there is no 
mineral water west of the fault.] 

Second point. All the mineral springs that have come to the sur- 
face voluntarily or been obtained without the use of the drill, are 
apparently within eighteen to twenty yards east of the west wall of 
the fault. At the first discovery of the Hathorn spring the water 
was driven up through the obdurate clay, which impinged against the 
western rock and thus formed a pocket of tufa, holding the water as 
at the High Rock. This uniform situation holds with reference to 
the Empire, Star, High Rock, Seltzer, Imperial, Pavilion, Putnam 
and Hamilton springs. The Red spring is pressed by the outer circle 
of the curve. A sharp curve occurs at the Congress, Columbian, 
Ainsworth and Washington springs. It is a sharp change in the 
general direction of the fault; thence it resumes its general course 
to the Greyserville springs and thence to Ballston and toward Albany. 

Third point. The present improvement at the Congress discloses 
the fact that, till the present excavation, it had never been tubed on 
the rock. The company excavated twelve feet below the original 
spring, and found the original water flowing freely out of a crevice 
in the rock six feet east of the original spring, and which has been 
skilfully secured. 

Fourth point. At the Hathorn spring, ten feet east of the original 
tubing, a diamond drill was sunk sixty feet and tapped the same 
stream. Again, seventy-five feet east of the first drilling, they 
reached the same water at a depth of one hundred and twenty feet. 
This is the same water which makes such a beautiful display in the 
main corridor. The Hamilton spring is about thirty five feet deep, 
and situated thirty-nine yards east of Hathorn's first spring, by thirty 
yards south. This spring has been entirely unaffected by the several 
excavations in that vicinity. 

Fifth point. In 1887 Mr. Abel Putnam, on a line thirty-nine yards 
east of the old Pavilion and United States springs, sunk a drill to the 
depth of six hundred and four feet in the calciferous sand rock. In 



12 Our Mineral Springs. 

passing down that distance lie encountered and rejected, several 
streams of mineral water, and obtained one at that depth of great 
volume and purity. When he reached the rock he found it slopin 
at an angle of about thirty degrees to the west. 

Sixth point. At the Haskins (old Seltzer) spring, the Doctor sun" 
a diamond drill forty-five yards east of the old spring, four hundre^ 
feet deep, and obtained from that depth a fine mineral water with 
good flow of gas. 

Seventh point. Mr. Porter purchased the Magnetic spring, an< 
directly on a line forty -five yards east of the Dr. Haskins' springs, h 
drilled one hundred and fifty-one feet, and obtained an abundant flo\ 
of mineral water. [This spring is only a few feet north of the Mag 
netic, but is very dissimilar.] 

Eighth point. The remarkable group of springs known as the Tei' 
springs, is about three-quarters of a mile east of the fault; and stii 
below that, on the line of the railroad, three other springs are found 
all east of the fault. 

Ninth point. Mineral water has been discovered in the excavatio 
made by the Lough berry brook, about one-half mile east of the fault 

Tenth point. Several mineral springs have been discovered am 
improved east of the general range of the fault in the town of Wilton 
along the line of excavation made by the Snook kill. 

Eleventh point. Mineral water has been discovered east of Circula 
street, when digging through the sand for a mineral spring on a lo" 
of Mr. Nolan, at a depth of ninety feet. 

Twelfth point. Gas and mineral water were discovered on the shor 
of Saratoga lake, at the depth of nine hundred feet, in the slate rock 
but the search was abandoned on account of its great depth. 

Thirteenth point. Next is the remarkable series of springs devel- 
oped at Quaker Springs and Schuylerville, all east of the fault. 

Fourteenth point. There are several mineral springs cropping out, 
from Schaghticoke, through Washington county, into and along the 
east shore of Lake Champlain in Vermont, to and into Canada. Many 
of them have attained considerable local celebrity. These include a 
valuable spring at Argyle, three (3) in Addison, Vermont, and the cele- 
brated Masisco Al burgh springs and Hygate. 



Our Mineral Springs. 13 

Now, are these systems of mineral fountains interdependent, as 
maintained by many, or are they, in fact, in their origin and general 
course from the east to the west, independent streams ? All of them 
have sought an outlet at the surface near the line of the fault. Some 
situated in near vicinity, may have had, before improvement, a com- 
mon outlet amidst muck, clay banks, or gravel beds, but this is where 
they have found a common level, at the several places of discharge. 

Where extensive excavations are made for retubing, those springs 
having a common outlet would be more or less depressed, until the 
completion of the improvements and the normal conditions are re- 
stored, when they are remitted to their ancient channels, without a 
particle of loss or change in gas or mineral composition. 

These occurrences have been a source of fear and anxiety on the 
part of spring owners, causing alarm and almost a panic to property- 
owners in the village. But this apprehension of danger is dissipated 
when we reflect that these mineral streams come, side by side, from 
fountains located at a higher level, and trace their several courses 
through numerous rock channels to the fault, freighted with their 
wealth of various and manifold constituent minerals. 

The drill, in passing down through six hundred feet of rock, en- 
counters and cuts open and taps five or six independent streams of 
diverse qualities. The operator can choose and appropriate, either 
one or all of them, from the same tube. Neither of these overlying 
streams would be affected or disturbed by a drill sunk north or south 
of the general opening, however near. Water would be found, but 
it would be an independent river. These several streams can be tap- 
ped by the drill on a line east, but at a greater depth, with the re- 
sult of increased value and purity. The chief impregnation of salt, 
is derived from the calcareous rock, that sealed up the fault. There 
can be no controversy by adjoining owners. Each has his own river 
to navigate. Which ever way the line may run, the law of the 
water-course applies to surface and internal streams. The right to 
dig on one's own land for water, gas or minerals is guaranteed by the 
constitution and the law, and cannot be impeached or challenged. 
It is evident that the diamond or other drill is a protection, and 



14 Our Mineral Springs. 

not a danger. The streams that they perforate are in the constant 
process of evolving gas and manufacturing mineral water. They 
arise from percolations of water located at a higher level, and are 
joined on their way by contributory rills as they in turn find their 
way to the fault, and thence are turned upward. On these head- 
waters and higher branches, the wonderful process of manufacture 
forever goes on till it readies the fault. 

Of all the springs discovered in this vicinity, many are only a few 
feet apart, yet no two alike. If there existed below our village an 
interior lake or reservoir, gas could not be evolved, but would be at 
once dissipated, and the product of such reservoir would be as uni- 
form in its constituent minerals as sea water. 

There is a manifest indiscretion, on the part of the Geyser people, 
in permitting their springs to display in full exhibit. It cannot be 
denied that they are vents additional to their normal condition, and 
which should be j udiciously controlled. I accosted one of the owners 
of a very fine Geyser on this subject, and asked him why he let it 
spout day and night, it being an injury to his own spring? And he 
replied that he had checked it on several occasions, but some team- 
sters went by and reported down town that his spring had failed, and 
he had finally concluded to let it "sizzle." This shows how sensi- 
tive we are, and displays a great lack of wisdom. 

It is the duty of every one to do what he may for the security and 
perpetuity of the springs. They are of great value to mankind, the 
gift of the Creator and of infinite variety. Let us dispel prejudice, 
avoid controversy and be of good cheer. 



Our Mineral Springs. 15 



CHAPTER II. 

A CURIOUS PROBLEM IX COURSE OF SOLUTION — THE REVELATION OF 
MINERAL WATERS GEOLOGICALLY CONSIDERED — WHY THERE 
IS SYMPATHETIC ACTION AMONG DIFFERENT SPRINGS — 
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPRINGS' " CREST" AND CON- 
SEQUENT INDEPENDENCE. 

[An article to the Saratogian.~\ 

To the Editor of the Saratogian : 

Dear Sir — I have read tlie published statements of State Geolo- 
gist Hall in the Saratogian, and also the theory of Mr. J. P. Butler 
touching the mineral waters. The latter says: 

"Where extensive excavations are made for retubing, those 
springs having a common outlet would be more or less depressed, 
until the completion of the improvement, and the normal conditions 
are restored, when they are remitted to their ancient channels, with- 
out a particle of loss or change in gas or mineral composition." 

Xow tins showiug presents the idea of separate streams in rock 
channels delivering the water at the "fault." 

Query : If this be correct how, in case the spring is tubed on the 
rock, can the supply of water from that particular spring be reduced 
by operations at another spring, and on what is, theoretically, a 
separate stream? Please explain this puzzle. Inquirer. 

The question propounded by "Inquirer" involves a vital problem, 
and profoundly concerns the interest of the owners of the springs so 
situated, and no less the general public welfare. Improvements by 
deep excavations, made at one spring, compel a complete suspension 
or lockout, for an indefinite period, to others in the vicinity. I will 
try to explain the cause of this phenomenon, and provide an inexpen- 
sive remedy. 

The center line between the east and west wall of the " fault " has 
been filled up and sealed up with Trenton limestone and other cal- 
careous formations, and from which center line designated the crest 
issues from streams below all the mineral water and gas along the 
whole line of the fault. 



16 Our Mineral Springs. 

This condition was first observed by me at the Washington spring 
when removed, many years ago by John H. White from its old 
location to its present position, a distance of about twenty-seven 
yards south-east. The excavation was made by following the chan- 
nel in the gravel, on an up grade, till it reached the rocks, where 
from a crest-like formation the water issued from six or seven 
springs on a line, and spurting up from orifices of various sizes in 
the crest. This crest runs along the whole distance of the exposed 
excavation, say twenty-five feet, aud the water seemed to be the 
same at all the openings. The pulsating action was the same, as 
each column was lifted in the air, rising and falling in unison, as if 
moved by the great throbbing heart in the breast of the rocks below. 
The largest opening Mr. White tubed up, and left the others outside 
of the tube sealed up. The display of the waters was beautiful, as 
it arose from the crest, and fell back on each side and along the 
polished rock. The jets were from six inches to four feet apart, 
occupying a space of about eight feet of crest. 

Similar conditions were observed at the Hathorn spring, where 
the excavation was carried down thirty-five feet to the rock. Within 
the shaft issued two streams, from openings in the crest, about ten 
feet apart. Both were securely tubed on the rock. They are the 
same water as proved by analysis. North and outside of the shaft, 
could be plainly heard the gushing sound and discharge from another 
outlet, in close proximity, so that it continues to discharge its volume 
through the crest, into the hard pan and gravel, and channeling its 
way into and through the superincumbent mass above and around. 

The next spring tubed on the rock, which has been subjected to this 
interference, is the Imperial, formerly known as the Flat Rock. It 
was excavated by Mr. Merchant to the depth of about thirty-five or 
forty feet. The same geological condition was found ; a crest-formed 
elevation five or six inches high. Here three orifices on the line of 
the fault were found and one of these was tubed and the two others 
packed with clay. Outside from its action, may be inferred another 
spring untubed. 



CREST,, WASHINGTON SPRING 




No. 2 — River and branches entering the crest. 



Our Mineral Springs. 1? 

The Congress has just completed the work of tubing on the rock. 
During the progress of sinking their shaft, the water in the Hathorn 
and Imperial subsided, with decrease of gas, but happily is being 
rapidly restored to its primal condition. Before the late improvements 
of the Congress it has been in turn subject to the same calamity, 
and the others in rotation. 



THE VALLEY. 

The general condition of the earth's deposit, above the rock, and 
along the entire valley, becomes a material consideration. First ap- 
pears a layer of loose earth, sand, muck and stone of recent deposit. 
Then a thick, tenacious clay with boulders, and the balance hard pan, 
drift rock and coarse gravel, so adhesive as almost to defy the pick; 
this condition continues along the line of the fault, with uniformity, 
throughout the valley, commencing at about twenty-one feet at the 
south to sixty feet at and below High Rock and Empire. 

It is obvious that before any of the springs were improved by 
tubing, save the High Rock, that all the mineral water and gas was 
forced from the orifices formed in the rock, along the line of the 
crest, and driven up through the gravel and overlying earth, until 
discharged into and along the village brook, so that all the springs, 
discovered and undiscovered, with all their divers mineral ingredients, 
percolated through and filled up the general level of the valley from 
twenty-five to fifty feet above the rock, and mingling and blending 
their infinite variety of waters, throughout the valley, from the 
Empire to the Congress spring, without distinction of name or com- 
pound; it was " a mixed drink." The only place during the long lapse 
of ages, reserved by nature, for the use of extinct animals and pre- 
historic man, was at the High Rock spring, and the Imperial spring; 
so that, throughout this vast reservoir above the rock, water-courses 
and conduits were formed from the opening in the crest rock, in 
gravel, clay and other earths, and when not broken by recent ex- 
cavations, the channels formed by the action of the water, are main- 
tained and used intact, to-day, as well as the general percolation. 



IS Our Mineral Springs. 

First, we will restate : — Congress spring lias two natural outlets, so 
far discovered, of mineral water issuing from the rock and tubed. 

Second, Hatliorn spring has two outlets, tubed within the shaft 
and one outside, and two that are artificial, making five mouths for 
one stream. 

Third, the Imperial has one outlet tubed on the rock inside of the 
shaft, and two that were closed up, and presumably, one or more 
outside of the shaft or crib. 

I have taken these three springs as an illustration, because they 
have been reciprocally, and interchangeably, affected. When the 
Imperial was excavated, both Hathorn and Congress were depressed. 

Congress, during the recent excavation, used a powerful pump, 
driven by steam, day and night, for over three months. It discharged 
not only its own water, but drew off' and drained both the Hathorn 
and the Imperial — not directly from the rock that had been securely 
tubed, but by circuity and indirection draining through those old 
circulating channels in the ground and earth, that have retained 
their connections with the opening in the rock, existing outside of 
the shaft and curbing, and connecting with one of the existing 
mouths of the interior stream below the crest, as they branch to 
their respective openings far below the outlet in the rock. That is 
to say: The water in the tube responds to the pumps by receding 
circularly into and through the branch not tubed. It is to be in- 
ferred that they are the same stream, because they are discharged in 
a group with similar characteristics, so far as observed; also, that the 
stream at Hathorn's, outside of the shaft, is the same from its close 
proximity and circulating actions; the two streams inside are proved 
by careful analysis. These are the general facts on which opinions 
can rest and truthful and reasonable inference drawn, that they are 
several mouths to one stream. 

By a well-known law of hydraulics, nearly all the rivers and 
streams of the earth have opened several mouths or places of dis- 
charge, as the Mississippi, the Amazon, Orinoco, Danube, Rhine, 
Euphrates, and our own Hudson. This is caused by obstructions in 
the soft and yielding materials of the delta, with which they are 



WASHINGTON 




No. 3— The dotted Hues are supposed branches. The dark lines above 
crest are conduits in earth. 



Our Mixeral Springs. 19 

confronted, and the accumulations closing up their mouths, and set- 
ting the water back. 

So these interior streams on the line of the fault have sought and 
retained their several mouths of discharge, in ductile, flexible, but 
quickly hardening materials, as from age to age they have been 
closely pressed and gradually crowded to the contracting orifices, 
maintained against the action of the elements in forming the calca- 
reous rock, in which it exists along the cresc of the fault. These 
natural outlets, to all appearances have been for countless genera- 
tions in the process of slowly diminishing. 

The crest along the line of the fault, on careful inspections shows 
that it has been in gradual process of healing, by slow incrustment, 
of Trenton limestone and other calcareous incrustation, about the 
opening. The crest along the center line of the fault is an elevation 
five to six inches high, with rounded and sloping roof. The slowly 
hardening process is carried on from age to age in spite of the tre- 
mendous abrasion and attrition of the mineral water and gas, as it is 
driven, by the propulsive energy, of hydraulic pressure and carbonic 
acid gas from the high branches of the internal streams. This iin- 
peditive at the mouth of the streams acts as a dam, driving and set- 
ting back the water toward the head- waters of the higher branches. 
This is further proved by the whole geological history of the fault 
during the progressive lapse of ages. This shutting in process has 
been a severe struggle between the compressed water and the acces- 
sion of incrustation. The water goes out in search of new vents aud 
other outlets at the east through rock crevices. It has been wit- 
nessed by countless ages in slowly healing up. The crest along the 
fault, on careful inspection shows incrustment of Trenton limestone. 

OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS. 

All the springs that are untubed, beside these natural 
causes, are further obstructed and diminished, in consequence of 
their orifices being filled and clogged by the drift rock and 
pebbles about and in their several openings, and the constant 



20 Our Mineral Springs. 

liability to fill up. Mr. Merchant, when he dug his spring, found 
and removed a tufa deposit, that had fallen into the orifice of his 
spring, weighing several pounds, greatly obstructing the flow. He 
has it at his office for inspection. Boulders and drift rock impede, 
more or less, all the springs before improvement. 

This position is further manifest, by the action of the compressed 
water when opened through the rock by artificial means. At the 
Champion it sent a column ninety feet high. This is an action inci- 
dent to all the artificial geysers. At the Geyser and Carlsbad and 
Porter's springs, when under such pressure, the water is driven out, 
with great velocity, dashing itself into spray and foam, as white as 
milk or a column of snow, as if driven from the nozzle of a fire engine. 
In this condition, if confined in bottles or barrels, a breakage would 
occur. 

The condition of these separate streams so pressed, is modified by 
an artificial opening within the village, along the line of the fault, 
properly regulated and controlled. This fearful pressure must have 
relief, either within the village or outside on the higher branches; 
all the springs along the line of the fault, tubed and untubed, have 
been hitherto unable to relieve this tremendous pressure. The 
several separate rock-channels with full banks, are pressed away 
from us to the higher branches, reaching caverns of the earth in 
search of an equilibrium. Let us face this problem manfully. We 
have the remedy given to us by science, and we can preserve the 
springs to our own valley. "Let us keep them at home." In the 
depth of their delicate channels, force or violence should never be used 
or suffered. It should be prohibited by law. There is no danger of 
losing our springs in this condition of the fault. The same material 
process has been in operation since the fault occurred. They are 
truths engraved on the rocks, " sermons in stones," by the Creator, 
who has imparted to man in the laws of creation a complete remedy, 
to be applied to every necessity of his being. The process described 
is geologically slow, a " thousand years are as one day," and may be 
implicitly trusted, to retain the gifts of the Creator, till the " earth 
waxes old as a garment," and shall have passed away. 



Ouk Mineral Springs. 21 



THE REMEDY. 

Now in conclusion, how can the interchangeable action of these 
springs be prevented ? Answer: Sink a man-hole securely to the 
rock, on a line north-east or south-west from the spring. Then run 
a tunnel on the line of the crest sufficiently far to discover, and take 
up and tube the outside openings, or else plug them up. This latter 
plan would be safe in the case of the Hathorn springs, as he has be- 
side his two tubes two artificial openings, and if the outside orifice, 
was sealed up, it would contribute its volume of water to replenish, 
the remaining branches, in lieu of being dissipated in the overlying 
earth. It would cost less than the actual damage of the lockout or 
suspension, by many thousand dollars, and for the sense of security 
everyone would be devoutly thankful. 

The history of the Empire spring affords a striking illustration of 
this theory. It was tubed on the rock and her whole group of 
mouths securely enclosed, a large number of perfect rock channels 
were removed in leveling off for the tube. Mr. Cromwell has pre- 
served a number of beautiful specimens which he would be delighted 
to show, at his office. The best specimens have been taken by pro- 
fessors of colleges to enrich their cabinets, so that the Empire spring 
w r ith all its six outlets secured and protected has delivered its mineral 
water fresh from the place of manufacture, without increase or de- 
crease, "variation or shadow of turning " during more than a quar- 
ter of a century. 

This theory of single streams, with their outlets properly secured, 
except in case of internal violence, presents absolute security and 
perfect purity, 



22 Our Mineral Springs. 



CHAPTER III. 

THE SEVERAL THEORIES. 

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the voice thereof, 
but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth." 

In a like condition are the countless millions who in all ages have 
flocked to these fountains, and drunk health and vigor. Those who 
have resided here all their lives, and passed and repassed, know but 
little of what is occurring under their feet; " it is a secret of nature " 
they say, and a profound mystery, and that ends the speculation in 
fear and uncertainty. 

Mr. Charles F. Fish says in his excellent address before the Phar- 
maceutical Association of Druggists, in 1880, and which was printed 
in their proceedings of that year, with regard to the origin of these 
springs, there are two theories advanced, all conceding the existence 
of the " fault" due to volcanic agency. 

As preliminary to the introduction of those two theories, he states 
that: " At a distance verging from two to twelve miles in a westerly, 
direction ranges of hills and mountains are encountered, presenting 
altitudes several hundred feet above this village. In addition to the 
enormous area of water-shed, that those elevated regions afford, 
they possess many ponds and lakes, some of which are of no insig- 
nificant size. The surface streams that drain this section flow toward 
the east, and as the various strata dip in the same direction, the ten- 
dency of the subterranean drainage must be toward the east, and as 
the various strata dip in the same direction the tendency of the sub- 
terranean drainage must be toward the same point of the compass." 

First theory. The advocates of the first of the theories regarding 
the origin of the mineral springs of Saratoga, recognizing the dis- 
integrating and solvent action of the water under its various forms 
of rain, snow and ice, claim that they are produced by the process 
of displacement or percolation, holding that when water falls upon 



Our Mineral Springs. 23 

elevated regions just described that a portion of it gradually perme- 
ates the soil and the various strata of the underlying works, dissolv- 
ing and carrying with it in its downward flow, the various constitu- 
ents of which the rocks are composed, and that these are decomposed 
by their reaction on each other, and new compounds are formed with 
the evolution of carbonic acid gas, that this is dissolved by the w r ater, 
which becomes highly impregnated with it, increasing its solvent 
properties to a great extent, enabling it to accumulate basic matter 
in its now, which continues downward and eastward, until the fault 
is reached, when an opportunity is afforded for it to escape from the 
rocks and rise to the surface through the various crevices with which 
the fault is environed, or make its escape through subterranean 
channels to unknown outlets; in either event, the result is due to 
the simple law of gravitation and hydrostatic pressure, the bodies of 
water stored in the lakes, ponds and rocks of the higher attitudes 
furnishing the necessary causes to produce this result. 

To substantiate this theory, attention is called to the close resem- 
blance existing between the leading chemical constituents of these 
w r aters and sea- waters, it being claimed that the mineral matter of 
the rocks, through which the waters percolate, was deposited from 
very ancient oceans, the existence of which was cotemporaneous 
with the period that embraced the deposit of the geological forma- 
tions, to which the various strata of this region belong. 

Second theory. Those that advocate the second theory with regard 
to their origin, agree with the adherents of the theory that has just 
been presented, in recognizing the elevated section, situated west of 
the village, and the fresh w r ater, that flows from it through the various 
strata, as being the prime source from which these mineral springs 
are derived, but decline to accept the theory that these constituents 
are obtained by the percolation of the fresh water through the rocks, 
maintaining, that the water remains virtually unimpregnated until 
the fault is reached, and that it is at this point that it becomes 
charged, with its mineral and gaseous constituents; claiming that, 
inasmuch, as the fault extends downward, to an unknown depth, and 
to the internal fires of the earth, and that the substance with which 



24 Oue Mineral Springs. 

tliese springs are impregnated, closely resemble those evolved in a 
gaseous state from volcanoes, that the mineral constituents of these 
waters are obtained from the heated interior, by the process of sub- 
limation and subsequent absorption, while the gases are also derived 
from the same source in a free state. 

Mr. Fish presents the two theories above very fairly, but I think 
without yielding his judgment directly to either. 

The late Dr. Allen maintained "that the surface water which 
fell upon the entire slope of the Kayaderosseras range flows over the 
exposed edges of the Silurian rocks; and freely percolates through 
them, all down to the Laurentian foundation," and that a greater 
hydrostatic pressure must result. That the water of the surface as 
well as the rocks below, flow from the west, and the mineral water 
comes from the west of the fault. 

The late Prof. McGurger, with his great learning and intuitive 
ability in this specialty, leans directly to the theory of sublimation, 
and has arranged on that subject a vast accumulation of astute and 
elaborate learning. 

Prof. McGfurger quotes Prof. Dunburg as follows: 

"When these springs" (thurmal which is the character of our 
springs) "occur in volcanic districts, their origin is very obvious; 
The water which percolates into the crevices of the strata, becomes 
heated by the volcanic furnace below, and impregnated with salt and 
gases by the sublimation of matter from the same forces." Dr. 
Scamon in describing these springs, says, "the high ground that forms 
the westerly bank of the valley, where the waters of these springs, 
which are situated at its foot appears to have been derived, are com- 
posed of calcareous rocks." *■*■*«' The bank on the easterly side 
appears almost entirely sand, with not the least vestige of calca- 
reous earth." If he had gone down forty feet he would have found 
plenty of calcareous material. 

I have not presented the foregoing here with any view of direct 
refutation, but to place them fairly in contrast with my own theory, 
nor has it been my purpose, at any time, to write a treatise on geology 
or its kindred sciences. 



Our Mineral Springs. 25 

The whole region, from the Adirondack s, if analyzed, wonld not 
produce a single glass of spring water. It would lack the Green 
Mountain system with its marble dust held in solution, to mingle 
with its product. 

So how absurd both theories seem, in that the water is brought 
from Laurentian hills, twelve miles distant, re-enforced by lake, 
pond and surface water, reaching the eaves of the fault strata, and 
thence plunged down to unknown depths, and there converted into 
spring water, by one or the other process, and then by a miracle, re- 
turned by the same channel, to the hole of entrance, like a squirrel. 
This would puzzle a very astute logician. 

Since the upheaval of the Adirondacks, with its Azoic system, 
composed of quartz, feldspar, mica, disseminated through the mass 
and excluding the idea of the conditions of life, no direct volcanic 
action has disturbed this region. Volcanic action has become for 
ages extinct through this region. The fault was the indirect or 
secondary action of the volcanic forces, that projected the Green 
Mountain range, by tilting up the calciferous sand rock, until it 
broke asunder at the fault, by its own weight, and then receded to 
its present position, on either side. These western hills were cast 
solid, without stratification; they have no interior streams. These 
huge mountain piles, serve the purpose of condensing the rain- 
clouds, and send their surface drainage to supply the rivers, and 
beautify the State's preserve. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE WESTERN THEORY. 

Within the twelve miles water-shed of the west, I recognize only 
Lake Desolation, Lake Luzerne, and the somewhat noted Granite 
lake. 

The outlet of Lake Desolation is westward, and discharges its 
waters at the Fish House, in Fulton county, into the Sacandaga, 



26 Our Mineral Springs. 

and thence to the Hudson, while Lake Luzerne goes with it, hand 
and hand, over the Palmer Falls, on its way to the ocean. 

There are no interior streams from the mountain ridge, on which 
Lake Desolation is situated, that would not be taken up by the deep 
valley of the Kayaderosseras river, running southerly, on the banks of 
which Crook's well was sunk, over a thousand feet, and is as dry 
as an Indian's powder-horn. 

The ancient ocean that existed over this whole region, prior to the 
fault, washed the eastern slope of the Greenfield Hills. It has im- 
pressed its signate in ripple marks on the Potsdam sandstone, and 
left its broad seal in the silicified specimens of beautiful stromato- 
pora ugosa in the Trenton limestone, so largely developed. 

The Granite lake has cut a deep passage through a granitic ledge, 
like a deep canal, for a quarter of a mile, to the depth of forty feet, 
to escape from the peat bed at its bottom, covering three hundred 
acres of land. At one time it was sought to introduce it, into this 
village for domestic use, little, dreaming that it was, indeed, an 
essential feeder for our mineral spring- water system. It, of course, 
provoked vehement opposition, but not on that account, but rather 
on the ground of " color and previous condition," and was rejected 
of the elders. So Granite lake flows onward as of old, through the 
Ellis brook, and by Geyserville, where it very peaceably and quietly 
unites, with the abundant overflow of the beautiful Geysers in that 
village, on its way to Saratoga lake. It does not even stop -at the 
Geyser's ; it brushes right across the very door-latch of the fault, 
but fails to enter. The Geyser would have flown into its face, and 
the Champion would have made a very sturdy resistance. 

If it takes a diamond drill two months to cut a section four hun- 
dred feet into the sealed crevices of the fault, how long will it take 
surface water to obtrude ? 

The fault, as commonly designated, relates to the altered position 
of the corresponding strata, when finally at rest. But it is really a 
fracture in the rock, and the fissure thus made has been completely 
filled up on a level with the top of the eastern rock as now im- 
bedded, excepting the mineral- water orifices, with rock material, 



Our Mineral Springs. 27 

and when this occurs the fillings are called veins. These veins are 
large or small, deep or shallow, single or like net-work, according 
to the fracture in which they occur. They may be as thin as paper, 
or they may be many yards or even rods in width. 

It is therefore certain, that while the water is forced out by gravi- 
tation no fugitive surface-water can go in, but all are rejected. 

The whole bed-rock, including the sealed-up fissures, called the 
crest, is shielded by the drift period, commencing with several feet 
of hard-pan, with gravel, clay, and more recent deposits, for about 
forty to sixty feet, enabling the village brook to take up all the rain 
and surface-water as fast as it accumulates, and carry it away. 

The whole fault with its priceless medicinal wealth, is guarded by 
a masked battery, armed with hydraulic artillery — ample for its pro- 
tection and defense against all comers and all goers. 



CHAPTER V. 

THE GREEN MOUNTAIN WAY. 

How does the water reach the depths of the fault, from the Gfreen 
Mountains, thirty miles away ? 

Opposite Fort Edward is the twelve-mile level. It has a modern 
name, for transportation purposes, but it has made all antiquity seem 
modern. 

It is a stupendous elevation running north-east and south-west ; 
it turns the rivers to the north, and the rivers to the south, and is the 
height of land between Quebec, on the north and New York on the 
south about one hundred and fifty feet above tide. 

The elevation was produced at the time of the upheaval of the 
Green Mountains, tilting up the calciferous sand rock, and suspended 
this bridge over the gulf, for the transportation of the streams bear- 
ing the Green Mountain system of water held in solution, to the 
depths of the fault. 



28 Our Mineral Springs. 

Prof. Chandler in February last published an article in the Troy 
Times on the geology of this region. This was after my first article. 
In which he states: 

"That the valley then, which we now call the Lake Champlain, 
and Hudson river formed one valley, and the water ran south. 

" New England and all of Canada, east of this great valley, was an 
island. There was a small valley, and tributary river, that came from 
the Adirondacks, and discharged its waters into this great valley at 
Glens Falls. 

" In the course of geological changes there was a transverse upheaval 
across this valley, between Whitehall and Gflens Falls. This divide 
is plainly marked, where the water begins to run northward and 
where southward. The one entering into Lake Champlain, the other 
into the Hudson river. 

" The Hudson river since this transverse upheaval, is united to this 
Adirondack river and valley, forming the north-western source. 

" The geological drift, the transportation of rock material, boulders, 
sand, clay, gravel, the striated, chiselled and grooved and polished 
surfaces of the rock, along the ancient shores, and bottoms by ice, 
and rocky drift material, together with the same age of the fossil 
sea shells, all go to prove, beyond a doubt, that the now two valleys, 
were formerly one great channel of water." 

This is clearly an aqueduct bridge, and Prof. Chandler has un- 
consciously discovered and pointed out the geological arches, that 
uphold this stupendous structure. "This Appian Way," will ever 
hold prominence over the noblest monuments of Roman genius and 
power. It sustains ten thousand viaducts or conduits, bearing in 
their charmed channels, the more than princely offerings, a tribute 
of the distant mountains, to lay at the foot of our imperial throne. 

This transverse upheaval passes north-east from the fault, through 
the northern part of Argyle, whence it sends Center Dead creek south 
to Moses kill and the Hudson, and Wood creek north to Lake Cham- 
plain. 

The movement forming this bridge was due to lateral pressure, 
the folding or elevation, having taken place just as it might in paper 



Our Mineral Springs. 29 

or cloth, under a lateral or pushing movement, extending from the 
mountains southwesterly to the fault. 

The action was not the same as broke the rock at the fault, but 
the result, it was slow in action and long continued, producing some 
heat. 

The history of the Appalachian mountains extend through all the 
geological ages, from the archsean, the Silurian, Devonian and car- 
boniferous ages, the foundations were accumulating to a great thick- 
ness while a slow subsidence was in progress during the latter age. 
The subsidence reached a depth of several miles. This was the age 
of the fault and the bridge. 

This lateral disturbance did not destroy or change the direction of 
the grain of the calciferous sand rock, but elevated the whole 
structure. 



CHAPTER VI. 

PROF. MCGURGER'S POINT. 

Prof. McGurger in his History of the "High Rock Spring," page 
seven, in refuting the solvent theory, with a kind of grim irony, 
says: "But we have actual demonstration, for within one hundred 
yards of one of our most remarkable mineral springs, we have 
issuing from the same rock, of precisely the same temperature, 
a copious flow of pure, fresh water. It, therefore, remains for 
the advocates of the solvent theory to reconcile this obvious incon- 
sistency with itself " — both theories assume that the water came 
from the west and from the same rock — if that were true it would be 
difficult of reconciliation, and the Professor had made a strong point, 
but on our theory, that the spring water is manufactured en route 
from the east, in separate rock channels, and delivered at the crest 
of the fault, is easily reconciled. Fresh water comes from the rock 
on the west side, and from the sand drift on the east side of the 
valley, and are both discharged into the village brook, and not a 
drop of either ever came within forty feet of the crest. 



30 Our Mineral Springs. 

The eastern mountains gathers and contributes all the mineral and 
fresh water in the course of its flow, to compound and fill the formula 
for the manufacture of the mineral water, without dependance on the 
water of the Laurentian Hills of the west, and it is therefore rejected. 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE CAVERN. 



This cavern is situated at the north-west corner of the Star spring 
bottling-house, and as far as explored, a receptacle for fresh pure 
water onlv. The mouth of the cavern can be seen while descending 
down the Empire Hill. Within a few years a large rock fell from the 
east side into the mouth, partially closing the opening, but it is still 
accessible. It is claimed by many that it extends a distance under the 
street. Its depth is very great. When I first came to the village I 
pushed a wire, one hundred feet in length, directly down and found 
no bottom. At the same time I rolled a six-pound cannon ball into 
the vortex, and the sound of its descent was prolonged till it died 
away in a mere murmer — evidence of its unfathomable depth. 

The water is tranquil, never seems to rise or fall, and I should 
think it stood a little below the ordinary level of the village brook 
opposite. The existence of this cavern is a fact worthy of greater 
consideration than it has received, in connection with the fault. 
There is a deep and irregular depression, south of the opening of 
about eighty feet, affording a presumption that this cavern extend- 
further than has been explored. The whole face of the sloping cliff, 
above the cavern, with a breast of fifteen feet, is channeled as if made 
by streams of surface water from time immemorial. The rocky 
wall, that holds back this interior lake or reservoir, like a thin 
partition, cannot be at the surface over a few feet in width, and 
gradually sloping to the west as it descends into the unknown regions 
below. The face of this thin partition, was sealed up by rock 
deposits as throughout the fault, so that no mineral water enters or 



Our Mineral Springs. 31 

fresli water escapes into the fault below the crest. The calciferous 
sand rock and other strata was pressed upward by the upheaval of 
the Green Mountains until the fault was produced, breaking perpen- 
dicularly from the Laurentian upward. This cavern was a lateral 
break, or stray crevice, produced at the same time and cut off from 
the superior range. The west wall was thrown up, and the east 
rock broke away and sunk, sloping toward the w r est and found a rest- 
ing bed far below the west wall. Xow it seems clear that water 
descending from the eastern water-shed, would be discharged far 
below the final resting place of the west wall of the fault by several 
hundred feet, hence a greater hydraulic pressure would occur, and if 
reinforced by the powerful action of the carbonic acid gas, its united 
power, over the water that might percolate from the west, or this 
cavern, would be overwhelmingly increased, and nothing is more 
certain, than it would occupy all the channels of entrance and drive 
the fresh water back and occupy its place. This view is further 
enforced by the fact that the surface of the fresh water in this cavern 
standing at or near the level of the village brook, is still sixty feet 
above the crest of the fault, and is likely discharged into the brook, 
over or through the deposit of earth covering the valley. It is, 
therefore, certain that this cavern is not a storehouse feeder, with 
internal connection, with the fault below the crest. If such con- 
nection existed the water within the lateral crevice, would be im- 
pregnated with mineral water and gas from the east, with its 
elevated water-shed from the sides of the Green Mountains, whose 
altitude is about three thousand feet above ocean level. This 
must be conclusive, as there never w r as any evidence of gas or 
mineral water in the lateral cavern or crevice, it has no pulsating 
action, but is tranquil and unagitated. 

I look upon this cavern, with its column of soft, fresh, pure 
water, standing like a sentinel, with its head erect, overlooking the 
valley, from unknown depths, with profound veneration. I think it 
will be regarded as furnishing satisfactory, if not conclusive proof, 
that all the medicinal water comes from the eastern hills, and pre- 
vails throughout the whole fault below the crest. 



32 Our Mineral Springs. 

I know the western theory may exclaim: "Are not Abana and 
Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel, and 
may I not wash in them and be clean." 

I have looked in vain, through the annular publications, for any 
description of this natural and wonderful phenomenon. It has never 
mingled in connection with the discussion regarding the origin of 
the mineral springs. It has a great significance in that regard, 
and worthy of scientific investigation and exploration. 

There was an ancient Indian legend of a wonderful cavern near the 
High Rock spring, that was inhabited from pre-historic times, by 
fabulous guardians of the Spirit spring — the Great Spirit that " kept 
watch and ward." 

These Indian traditions were made a striking feature in a fictitious 
narrative of Saratoga, published by the late Daniel Shepherd, Esq., 
several years ago. 

In 1868, Abel Putnam, Jr., owner at that time, of the Star 
spring, was removing rock for use, at the mouth of the cavern, and 
while making an exploration in the interior discovered on a rock 
shelf, an ancient oyster shell, the left leaf five inches by three and 
one-half. It was incrusted with mineral deposit, but was easily 
broken, and parts of it crumbled into dust. It was disintegrated and 
required cement to hold it together. It is clearly of great antiquity, 
and presumptive of its having been the resort of man in pre-historic 
times. Who placed it on that rock shelf, and for what purpose ? 

It was marked as follows : 

FOUND IN CAVERN 

AT STAR SPRING 

1868 

A. PUTNAM. 

There is in Newcastle, Maine, heaps containing millions of oyster 
shells, and not an oyster bed on the coast of Maine, to-day. They 
are ten miles up that river from the coast. Absolutely nothing is 
known about the mounds, so the mounds of the Pemaquid are simi- 



Our Mineral SpkinOxS. 33 

lar. In the earliest chronicles of that place there is nothing to throw 
any light upon their history. 

THE TILLAGE WATER- SHED. 

The water shed of the village, that enters the village brook from 
the west, is very limited, a waving line drawn north and south 
less than one-half mile from the fault, covers all the slope that sends 
its waters east to the village brook. West of that line, passing from 
Hilton's Park, on a circle, enters the Waterbury brook, and thence 
to Broadway, near Congress spring. It is a mistaken idea that the 
rock west of the fault is cavernous. It is true that the surface strata 
of calciferous sand rock was shaken up and broken on the line of 
the grain, but the heavy underlying foundation well withstood the 
shock of the upheaval, and deep drilling proves that it, remains very 
compact and solid. As a general thing, a drill sunk deep, strikes 
fresh pure water, and sends it forth in a living stream and a never 
failing supply. The drainage is limited. There is a small brook 
that enters the village brook west of the waterworks, near Dr. 
Taylor's. It comes from Hilton's Park north-west from the central 
gate, where, in spring and fall, it appears and disappears in the sur- 
face rock, passes under Broadway to the quarry formerly called 
Tronto, where it again comes from the rock and disappears down 
the hill. This was marked on a map of Dr. Clark, in 1841. South 
of that is a similar stream running west of Broadway and south of 
Second street. It passes Broadway under cover near the Drexel 
cottage, then comes out on Mr. Bronson's lot, at the foot of the 
large pine tree, thence under Catherine street, Mount McGregor, and 
Delaware and Hudson Railroad, down the hill to the village brook. 
This is a considerable stream and delivers at times water sufficient 
to carry a saw-mill. 

The balance of the water- shed, is completely controlled by the 
public authority through our water conduits and street sewers. 
They have been constructed at great expense, and are so perfect in 
operation as to meet the commendation of the State commissioners. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

021 062 873 3 



CREST., WASHINGTON SPRING 




No. 2 — River and branches entering the crest. 



